STORM CLOUDS IN OKC?

The Oklahoma City Thunder are one of the most talented teams on paper in the NBA as of right now. They have two legit MVP candidates in Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook, a top power forward in Serge Ibaka, and an emerging young center in Enes Kanter. You add in role players like Steven Adams, Dion Waters, DJ Augustin, and Nick Collison and you have yourself a top team in the Western Conference. If we just took a guess based on the lineups, you’d have to consider them as a front runner for the finals. Too bad they have to play all 82 games, which seems to be the major problem for these guys.

Another possible problem that could come back into the lime light is the locker room. There has never been any big blow ups behind closed doors, but there is belief that people have somewhat chosen sides when it comes to how the team should be handled. Russell Westbrook’s attitude isn’t always great, which can rub people the wrong way. Especially when he comes up for excuses for his bad decisions late in games. They see his arrogance as a thing that holds the team back. I do believe that this could play into the grand scheme of this. What if early on, he does make a bad choice and jacks up a contested shot with Durant open? Does the media eat him alive? Will Durant keep to his word and downplay it because “That’s his brother”? Can the locker room stay behind someone that is costing them games just based on pure ignorance to the system? It’s been a problem for many years, and the idea of Durant leaving could force people’s hands. They might lean to Durant’s side of things just to please him, or maybe they honestly believe that Westbrook is hurting them. A lot of this tension is what caused Scott Brooks to be shown the door. You have to walk a very fine line when you have two figures like OKC does.

Billy Donovan has been one of the most successful college basketball coaches since the beginning of the 2000’s. He led Florida to 2 national championships, as well as sending a multitude of players on to play in the NBA. He finally made the jump this off season to the big leagues, and he has a very interesting situation on his hands. With the roster at hand, it is built to win right away. When you have 2 All-NBA players on your team, and one of those is in a contract year… there is absolutely no time to figure it out. Especially in a conference where a slow start could put you in catch up mode the rest of the season. Add to it that he is going to have to manage touches between a very strong-headed point guard and a perennial scoring title contender to keep both of them happy? This is no easy task. You can recruit the next star player into your program; you won’t just find another Kevin Durant or Russell Westbrook.

Ever since linking up, the dynamic duo of Durant and Westbrook has been a sight to see. When clicking, they are one of the most potent offensive combos to ever play. The things those two guys can do are mind-blowing. Every game, one of them is making a play that makes you double take. There has always been the same problem though, there is only one basketball on the court at a time. Durant has never been one to call for the ball, but you can tell at times he is frustrated when Westbrook jacks up shots after bringing the ball up and not even getting into the offense. The two have gotten into heated arguments on the court, only to blow it off afterwards. Their excuse is that brothers fight, and no matter what they just want to win. While the winning aspect of it might be true, I still believe there is some bad blood in their relationship. There has been plenty of instances where Westbrook has taken the ball in crunch time and blew a game with Durant wide open. Yes, Westbrook is an elite level player, but he fails to realize that he needs to defer to the former MVP sometimes. You can’t knock his confidence, nor can you try to take away from his aggressiveness, but Scott Brooks needs to somehow tame it to a point where he can make the right basketball decision when it matters most. Otherwise, I do think there will come a breaking point for Durant. Why would he want to be a second option to anyone? Especially when he can and will get paid to do just that. These are one in a generation type talents, so keeping them on the same page is the most important thing when it comes to the direction of the franchise. While you need more than 2 people to carry a playoff run, you do need 2 legitimate scoring options when it comes to crunch time. He has to come up with a way for the team to feel comfortable with what he chooses to go with. If the defense is giving them Russell, then he has to do what he does best. If they are trying to stop the ball, then he has to defer and give the ball up. Scott Brooks did not seem to have the respect of Westbrook when it came to times like this, and you could see it in the players on the court. They knew where the ball needed to go, yet they watched their trigger happy trigger man pull up with 3 people in his face. The person you could see it in most was Durant. While he defused things at the media table, you could absolutely see it in his facial expressions. That kind of stuff can’t happen this year, because one of the main pushes for teams trying to get KD’s talents to their city is the idea of being the number 1 option no matter what. Donovan has to cater to Durant in a way that satisfies him, as well as benefits the team. In reality though, a happy KD will benefit any team. That is why it is so important to make sure he feels comfortable with what they are providing him.

Obviously, KD didn’t get to full form last year. A nagging foot injury kept him out of 55 games last year. That’s more games than he had missed in the rest of his career. Still, you know the 6’10" freak of nature is going to be more than ready for the 15-16 campaign. Coming off a very strong showing at the USA camp over the summer, Durant looks ready to take back his scoring title and lead his team back to the playoffs. There is other things on his mind though. Whether he’s ready to admit it or not, everyone knows that he has been thinking about his free agency at the end of the year. Whether it’s to resign with the team that has took care of him his whole career, head back home to the DC area and play for the Washington Wizards, or even take a trip out to LA and carry on the long tradition of purple and gold, there is a lot of possibilities. Who wouldn’t want to stick their name in the drawing for the former MVP? Everyone loves the guy on and off the court, he represents himself well in the community and is exactly what you want out of your cornerstone player. Stephen A. Smith has been on the record of saying that he has had conversation with Durant about his probable test of the market. KD has always shied away from bringing the light to non-basketball topics, but I don’t think he can run away from this one. There is a ton of factors and variables that are going to come into play. Does he want to win? Does he like where he’s at? Is he ready to bring a championship home to DC? The biggest factor I believe is the one he has to share the ball with, Russell Westbrook.

This situation is big in Russell’s career as well. If Durant leaves, he knows what type of team he will be playing with. One that he has to do absolutely everything to stay in the game. It led him to get some ridiculous stats last year, racking up the longest streak of triple doubles ever. It was his first taste of being the undisputed 1st option on the team, and he did his best to make a case for the MVP title. While he didn’t win it, he did solidify himself as one of the most dominate players in the league. It has always seemed as if that he was his main goal is, to be the absolute best. What he has to consider is, is that worth losing his partner in crime? He has to know that he can’t ball hog like that with Durant coming back. He might not particularly like it, but in order to be in a better situation for the long term, he has to bite the bullet at least until KD is locked up. That might not even be enough to keep him there, but I think management has to talk to him. He should know it himself, but part of me thinks he wants Durant to leave so it can be his show. There is so many ways this ship could turn, but I think the most likely case is that it sinks.

In my opinion, KD is on his way out of OKC. I can’t predict where he will end up, but my best guess in Washington. He doesn’t seem like a big market guy, and he is also involved heavily in the community. The Wizards have a strong team as it is, with the young back court of John Wall and Bradley Beal. The addition of a wing player such as Durant easily puts them into the conversation to be a top team in the Eastern Conference. Another big thing I think could be an attraction is being able to keep Lebron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers out of the NBA finals. Durant has always been an ultra-competitive player, and what better way to cement himself as the best player in the game than to make sure the only other man in his way of being that can’t even get a chance at a ring. Another viable option will be Los Angeles. Everyone knows the prestige that comes with being a Laker. With Kobe towards the end of his career, there is going to be room for a star like himself. The young core they have of Clarkson, Russell, and Randle would be a very good option for a player looking to win, but also keep the mileage on his own body down. While being the 1st option, he would still be able to rest with all of the youth and talent they have. Also, I don’t think the Lakers would only bring in KD if they did make that splash in the free agent market. Players like LeBron James, Dwayne Wade, and many others could make their way out of the situations they are in following this year.

Either way you look at it, the amount of turmoil in Oklahoma City is going to be interesting to follow. Will they be able to put it together and return to championship level play? Will the looming free agency of Kevin Durant hold them back? Will Westbrook and Durant be able to co-exist again, or will the amount of touches create problems? What is considered successful in Billy Donovan’s first year? All of those questions will be headlines coming into the year. With that being said, these men are professionals, and until proven otherwise, we can only expect them to worry about the things they can control. One thing is for sure, the spotlight has never been brighter in Oklahoma City. It’s time to put up, or shut up.